A new scientific milestone. A team of researchers from the National Jewish Health Hospital has identified a trigger for autoimmune diseases such as lupus, Crohn’s disease or multiple sclerosis. The findings help explain why women are more affected than men by autoimmune diseases and suggest a therapeutic goal to prevent autoimmune disease in humans.
“Our findings confirm that age-associated B cells (ABCs) drive autoimmune disease. We have shown that the transcription factor T-bet within B cells causes ABCs to develop. By eliminating T-bet within the B cells, the mice prone to developing autoimmune diseases remained healthy . We believe that the same process occurs in humans with autoimmune disease, “says Kira Rubtsova, co-author of the work.
Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system attacks and destroys the organs and tissues of its own host. Dozens of autoimmune diseases affect millions of people around the world. Several autoimmune diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or multiple sclerosis, affect women considerably more. Specifically, 2 to 10 times more than men. In general, about 80% of autoimmune patients are women. And there is no cure for autoimmune disease.
B cells: key players in autoimmune disease
Scientists previously identified a subset of B cells that accumulate in autoimmune patients, autoimmune female mice, and the elderly (= age-associated B cells or ABCs). Subsequent research showed that the transcription factor T-bet plays a crucial role in the appearance of ABC cells.
Through genetic and breeding techniques, the scientists eliminated the ability of mice prone to autoimmune diseases to express factor T-bet within their B cells. As a result, age-associated B cells did not emerge and the mice they stayed healthy. 75% of the rodents with T-bet in their B cells died at 12 months, while 90% of the mice without T-bet survived after 12 months.
“Our findings show for the first time that ABCs are not only associated with autoimmune diseases, but actually drive them ,” Rubtsova said.
The study has been published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
